Grand Blanc Township — The lone suspect in a mass shooting and devastating fire at a Michigan church during a Sunday service is a former U.S. Marine who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old Burton man who allegedly opened fire on a Mormon church service and set fire to the place of worship, served in the Marines from June 2004 through June 2008, according to records provided by the U.S. Marines.

He was deployed to Iraq from August 2007 through March 2008 and had the rank of sergeant, according to the records. His military occupational specialty was organizational automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator.

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye named Sanford as the lone gunman who shot 10 at the church and intentionally set fire to the

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